Real Wedding – Imavi & Rehan, Melbourne VIC

October 16, 2023 In Real Weddings, Victoria, White By Ivory Tribe

Real Wedding – Imavi & Rehan, Melbourne VIC

When a bride and groom cut such chic, ultra-elegant figures on their dreamy wedding day, the only accessory that could top their fits is their radiant, mega-watt smiles. For the simply stunning Imavi and Rehan, their celebration is uplifting, timeless and truly epic.

Encompassing both a traditional Buddhist Poruwa ceremony and party-style reception, this was a day that had everything. Stylist Weddings by E wove the monochromic colour palette into a textured harmony of creamy layers juxtaposed against crisp glass candelabras and sleek modern typography-based signage.

We love Imavi’s gown, the perfect blend of princess silhouette in contemporary style, with clean, minimalist lines and dynamic movement.

There to capture every impactful moment was photographer Shevan J Photography. For a timeless treat, scroll on.

The meeting.

We both met at the gym back in 2016.

As I stumbled through my workout routine, I noticed a handsome stranger across the room. We shared a laugh and started chatting about how similar our lives are. As we continued to run into each other at the gym, we became fast friends, and it wasn’t long before our friendship blossomed into something more. Now, years later, I can hardly believe that this sweaty, awkward gym encounter led me to meet my husband.

The ‘one’.

We knew as soon as we couldn’t stop messaging each other.

The proposal.

Rehan proposed at Crown Towers; he booked a room and set the place up with balloons that spelt out ‘will you marry me’. Getting engaged was the last thing on my mind; we had just bought a house, and this didn’t even cross my mind. He definitely surprised me.

Planning process.

We had an amazing stylist and coordinator from Weddings by E, Elizabeth. She worked tirelessly over the months leading up to the wedding to make our vision come to life.

When I sat with Elizabeth, I showed her a lot of Pinterest pins I had saved over the years. Our black-and-white style hadn’t changed over the years, so it was very easy to provide her with my vision.

Style inspiration.

Rehan and I are both very simple individuals. We wanted to make sure our wedding represented that.

The ceremony.

We got married at Immaculate Conception (Church) in Hawthorn. This church was very special to Rehan because his parents got married there 34 years ago.

Our reception was held at Crown (The River Room & The Garden Room). I wanted a venue that allowed us to hold a traditional Buddhist Poruwa ceremony (The Garden Room) and allow us to continue the night celebrating and enjoying some amazing food and drinks (The River Room). Crown was very special for us because we got engaged there, but we also wanted a space that overlooked the city.

The outfit.

Rehan wore a tailored double-breasted suit in black, along with a black cummerbund and a black tie from P. Johnson. He wanted to stay away from the traditional wedding suit, and he was able to do this because we didn’t have a bridal party.

Imavi wore an ivory white, long-sleeve princess cut gown with a low back with cascading buttons that flow down to the hem by Demetrios from The Sposa Group, and for the traditional ceremony, she wore a custom saree designed by Kanya Var Couture. She had the privilege of designing her saree from scratch and was extremely pleased with the way it turned out.

Favourite moments.

Rehan: Seeing my wife walk down the aisle and experiencing the traditional Buddhist Poruwa ceremony.

Imavi: Seeing my husband at the top of the aisle and celebrating our love with our close friends and family all in one spot.

We both loved walking into our venue and seeing our vision come to life; it was beautiful.

Meaning of marriage.

Marriage means we get to spend the rest of our lives together; all we ever want in life is to continue this amazing adventure we have together.

Wedding soundtrack.

Aisle: Canon D

Reception entry: End of Time by Beyonce

First dance: Angel of Mine by Jac Ross

Funny stories or near disasters.

We almost didn’t have a cake! The cake we made fell apart, but luckily, Rehan’s mum made a cake 48 hours before the wedding. She saved the day.

Planning surprises.

Everything went smoothly because we had Elizabeth from Weddings by E. She made the entire process pain-free. We were surprisingly 30 minutes ahead of schedule, and that’s not really heard of for a Sri Lankan wedding.

Words of wisdom.

Enjoy every moment because the day really does go fast.

From silent discos to non-white bridal gowns, the seasonal trends for weddings always bring something new and exciting. To get your on-point inspiration, check out our summary of what is on the rise this year.

IMAVI & REHAN’S VENDORS

Ceremony venue: Garden Room at Crown Casino

Reception venue: River Room at Crown Casino

Officiant: Father Ralph

Photography: Shevan J Photography

Videography: Mama Wedding Films

Styling & florist: Weddings by E

Hair: Dimitri Kyvetos Hair

Make-up: Stephanie Bottrell

The dress: Demetrios Bridal from The Sposa Group

Shoes: Steve Madden heels & Calibre dress shoe

Rings: Cartier